Boca Raton Historical Society, Inc.

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OCTOBER 1979 VOL. VIII, No, 1

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OLD CITY HALL, HOME OF BOCA RATON HISTORICAL SOCIETYJeanne Nixon Baur, Artist

A report to the membership of

Boca Raton Historical Society, Inc.

P.O. Box 1113 • Boca Raton, Florida 33432

Board of TrusteesBoca Raton Historical Society, Inc.

Robert MacLaren, Chairman of the BoardDavid Ashe Dr. Charles GobyJohn Cornett Mrs. Randolph Merri l lDonald Curl Mrs. Dorn Lee ReddHerman Dance Frank SchuylerMrs. David Dickenson Mrs. S.F. SnyderMrs. S. J. Ladika Mrs. Charles E. Waldner

Mrs. L. Bert Stephens, PresidentMrs. Charles Mohaupt, Vice President

Mrs. Richard Notes, Recording SecretaryMrs. Eugene Baur, Corresponding Secretary

John Girard, Treasurer / Mrs. Howard McCail, Archivist

MODEL LAND COMPANYTO

Datei; Recorded in"i - :

i Page.lA±

x /n ffte County Clerk's office of

County r Fla.,

the >_.2Z__L_........day of

V'"-.

SINGING PINES

T/xe opening o& the. Singing Pinzi Ikazum on October 21, 7979capped oveA iouA yexuu> ol planning, inmtnation, di&appointmznt,wonk, and dedicat-lon. The. new mu&zum not only addi to Boca Ra£on'&cuttu/iat ice.ne. with it& atthactivz iadLitiu {oft zxhibiti, iX al&oQivej, new Hie. and a u&zlul tXAAttnce. to an impofutant pant oi the.dty'i eaAZy heritage.. The. building, one. oi the. oldut iuJivivinghouazi in Boon Raton, wai built a iuZl denaiz be.&o)iQ. thz HLzneADia. oi thz mid-1920&. Although oitzn KzieM-ed to a* a. "CnackeACottagz," it 16 actually a iinzly ptiopoAtioned bungalow o£ iti via.A iomolly dz6ign&d iadkdz with a cznteAzd zntKy poKch iwppohtzdby iix giacziul Ionic column* addi to thz hou&e.'/> aAchitzctuAalinteAzit.

Singing ?i.nz& MJOA built aiwund 797 3 by William MyfUck on a lotp h d by hl& wiiz, Mamiz R. MytUck, iwm thz Model Land Companyin Octobzn. 7972. Thz company, thz land division oi Hznh.y M. TZagle/i'iEmt Coa&t Railway, uxu, developing a imall &ubdiviii.on along thzuiut i>iAe, oi iti tracks juit iowth oi Palmetto Va/ik Road. ThzMyUcki, who had moved to flanAda i>iom Nonth CaAotina a £w yzaAhzanlieA, puAchcuzd onz oi thz iiut loti. ThzMi new hauiz incoxpo-fmtzd izatuAzi aied by thz zanLieMt iouth flonJAa. pixtnzenM- iomz £thz lumbzfL had bzzn (,ound on thz bzach. In 7973 thz location iia tfiuz window on thz would. Not only did thz hou&z inont on thzonly fiailway linz izAving iouth Flofuda, but acAoii thz tAacki tothz eoJ>t Han thz only majofi nonth-iouth highway.

William ttytiick had many acAzi planted in \>zgetahlz& in the.Coconut CAzzk aKza. A couplz oi yzaAi oi diiait/t-ouA wzatheAconditiani hnined ki& cuopi and ioiiczd thz iamily to izll thziA newhome, in 7977. Thz buyzu wexz Mt. and Wu>. Gzange. blaihington Racewho movzd to Boca Raton i>tom Mew Von.k itatz with thziA daaghteALillian.

Thai bzgan Lillian Race (UitUam&'i [ihz tt*u mowiizd ioK a &ho/vttime in thz zahly twzntizi to a childhood iwzzthzaAt iiom New Vonk)aiiociation with thz hou&z and Boca Raton. Thz houAZ wai to bz heAhomz ion almoit iixty yzau. It wad olio Lillian who namzd thzhou&z "Singing Pinz&" ion. thz iound oi thz wind pairing th/iough thzpinz tAzzi on hzn pnopenty.

Thz Raczd WZKZ nzlatzd to thz Chzt>zbAo&, anathzn pionzeA BocaRaton iamily. Singing PineA wot, thai inom thz beginning a gathzn.-ing pla.cz ion family and inizndi. Lillian had nzczivzd ionmal mwiixitnaining and, with heA mothzn, oitzn zntzntainzd thzin guziti. OVZAthz yzaAi ihz played at iznviczi ion izvznal chunchzi, including thzCommunity Ckunch and thz ChuAch oj$ thz Open Voon.

UMAJCLYI at&o mote, vexiz. Much o& hex latex poztxy, cominga.£tz/i thz dzathi o£ hex paxznti, detalli hex. lovz ion Singing Plnziand laments hex Inability to aiion.d to pnopexly maintain the. hoa&z.Hex financial pnoblemt >ponced hex to open Singing Plnzi to noomexi,at ilx&t taking In the. vilvti and glxl fanlendi oi iexvlcemen itatlon-zd at the. Boca Raton cuxfileZd, and. latex wlntex tounliti and k

She. wen able, to kzzp hex home., though o&tzn only bzcau&z o& the.gznexoilty oi inlendi, until Januaxy 1976. Thzn, a£tex living atSinging Plnzi Ion. almost ilxty yzaXi, ihz iell and bnokz hex Izg InVzcmbeX 1975. Realizing that ihz couZd not caxz ion. hex&eli, ihziold Singing Plnzi and moved to the. Boca Raton Convalzscznt Czntex.Thz pfiopexty'i, location made. It quite valuable, ion comexdalde.veJLapme.nt. Although the. dzvzlopexi had no need ion. thz houiz,many local onganlzatloni, Including the. State. Hl&tonlc Comml6ilono{ Boca Raton, the. Boca Raton Hlitonlcal Society, and thz Junlon.Sexvlcz League., Immediately Kzcognlztd that l{ Boca Raton'i hexltagzuxu to be pn.ziexvzd, Singing Plnti 'had to 6e iaved.

It wai ea&y to make. the. decision that Singing Plnzi ihould beiaved. finding a location £0)1 a new home., and thz monzy to mo\iz It,pnovzd thz dlf&lcult jobi. Afitex anchltzcti gave, aiiunancei that thzbuilding could, be moved the. oiilczM o£ thz Boca Raton HlitoilcalSociety began thz job 06 ilndlng a iultablz iltz. An o^ex o$ landto thz vie&t 0(f thz city had to be izjzatzd bzcau&z o& thz coit o& thzdlitant move.. Suppoizd. county owned land at 1-95 and Palmetto TankRoad txixned out to be ouinzd by thz itatz. Othex locations al&aproved unavailable, oh. Inconvznlznt.

Onlglnally thz new ovinzx oi Singing Tlnu izt Auguit 1, 1976 aj,thz datz whzn thz houiz would be dutxoyzd l^ not moved. He wcuanxlouA to begin can&txuctlon ofa a uxtxehou&z on thz pnopexty. A& Itbecame obvloui that no new location ion. Singing Plnzi could be ^otindby thzn, hz gnantzd thz hout>z a nzpnlzvz until Uovembex lit.

All the. vanloui g-toupi wohklng to iavz Singing Tlnzi now tieal-Izzd thzy had to filnd a new location In ju&t wzzhi on. loiz thzhouiz to thz wtizcklng cxw. At thli tlmz thz Junlon. Sexvlcz Leaguzagxzzd to takz ovex the. hou&z and opexatz It a& a muitum. ThzLzaguz aHo commlttzd ltizl{ to thz wonk o{ n.zitonatlon. With thz&zaiiuxanczi, on Octobex 19th thz Boca Raton city council allowed thzhouiz to be moved to city ownzd land at thz nonth znd oi thz blockcontaining thz new city hall, thz community czntex, and thz tznnlicouxts. Although thz hlitonlcal ioclety and thz Junlon. SexvlczLeague, had plzdgzd monzy ion. thz movz, iuUlclznt iundi wexz itlllunavailable, io thz council olio voted to u&z ioun. thousand dollaupuim Iti contingency iund. Ihui, only a littlz ovex a wzzk in.omthz Novzmbex lit deadline, Singing Vlnei wa& iaved.

Donald III. Cuxl, Edlton.

Ann Holly, "Early Days Here Not For Softies." The Ob&zxvzn.(Deerfieid), April 22, 1976.

Water everywhere...everywhere you looked...was how Mrs. AldahMyrick Overstreet recalled her f i r s t look at Deerfield on thatSeptember day in 1910. Now living in Haines City, Florida, Aldahadmitted her brother, Robert (14 years old) and Joseph (10) and shewere delighted with all the water. "It was knee-deep on DixieHighway," she remembered. "We promptly borrowed the gangplanksfrom the packinghouse and used them as boats. We were so disap-pointed when the water went down; we thought i t great fun to livein a town that was underwater."

That wasn't the f i rs t disappointment for 12-year-old Aldah.William and Mamie Myrick, with their children, had traveledseveral days by train to reach their new home in South Florida.Aldah admitted looking forward to reaching Florida with greatanticipation.

"We were told Florida was the land of flowers," she explained,"and the minute we crossed the border, I expected to see beautifulflowers everywhere. But what did we see? Nothing but swamps!"

....School attendance was also a requirement for the children.Between the three of them, they made up a good percentage of thepupils attending the one-room schoolhouse. The schoolhouse, acrossthe street from the store, doubled as a church whenever a preacherwould happen by.

Truck farming did well that f i r s t year for the Myrick's andBill purchased land in Boca Raton and built their f i r s t Floridahome. The house, stately with i t s six tall columns on the porchwas located south of Palmetto Road alongside the railroad trackand s t i l l stands today.

Although the Myrick's moved to Boca, populated with 13families, they continued to come to Deerfield to do their shopping.To go shopping meant hitching up the wagon and the expedition wouldconsume a whole day. Finding i t incredulous to think i t would takeall day for the four-mile round t r ip , Aldah explained, by asking"Have you ever tried to drive a mule?"

Boca Raton, too had a school and Aldah continued her education,despite the five-mile walk each day. She soon graduated; theschool only went through the eighth grade. With the nearest highschool at West Palm Beach, out-of-state boarding schools werepopular and Aldah with classmate Hattie Long, left the s ta te .

While she was away, the Myrick's fortune flourished and Billsoon purchased 200 acres in the Cypress Creek area. But his luckran out--days before his f i r s t bean crop was to be harvested, anunexpected and severe frost killed the entire crop. Not only thecrop was lost , so was the 200 acres.

"Can you imagine?" Aldah shook her head. "What would i t benow—200 acres in that area?"

But the same fate had occurred many times and she recalledthe adage about a truck farmer in South Florida.

"The first year, he's dried out.The second year, he's drowned out.The third year, he's frozen out.The fourth year, he walks out."

Noting the tall condominiums that have replaced the tall treeson the beach and the bumper-to-bumper traffic on what used to be alimestone highway, a more modern version might read;

"The fourth year, he's crowded out."

* * * * *

'a-.'

The Myxick Family in Florida. Note the car in the background.From the left: Robert, Joseph, Aldah (Mrs. Overstreet), and theirparents, William and Mamie Myrick.

Joseph Myrick to Bradley Middlebrook, May 24, 1976.

— I helped my dad to build this house as our family moved toBoca Raton in 1911 when there was only 4 other families livingthere. I have several old pictures of date from 1911 through 1917including the old one-room school, the horse and wagon that broughtthe children from Yamato to Boca Raton school. I thought you mightbe interested in some of this stuff. The sills used in the old home

were picked up on the beach by Harry Chessbro. They were 4" x 13"30 feet long and we purchased them from him for $1 each. I recallspecial roofing on rear porch that I have never seen any like itsince then. It was one of the few that withstood the hail stormthat damaged the slate roof on the Depot. Let me know if youwould like some of the old history.

"Boca's Oldest House—Family Pride," The ttuml HeAtULd, October 10,1976.

It was hot work lifting the lumber and pounding in the nails,but it was fun because the family was doing it together... .In thosedays there were only four families in what later would become "BocaRatone," and the Myricks—W.L., the father, Joe and Bob, the boys,Aldah, the daughter, and Mamie, the wife and mother who looked afterthem all—were one of them.

Their home, "Singing Pines," was a handmade, family affair, justsouth of the depot. The window sills were crafted from rough firtimbers that another pioneer resident found washed up on the beach.Four inches by 13 inches and 30 feet long, they sold for a dollarapiece. Well built as it is, the old home survived wars, real estatedevelopments, and a few months of disuse since its last owner enter-ed a nursing home.

But the old Myrick place isn't quite the beauty she was in the1917 photographs from the collection of Joe Myrick, now 76 and liv-ing in Tampa. Boca Raton has matured, too, in those intervening 59years, and where Joe remembers woods that harbored alligator nestsand wildcats, there now stand office buildings. The free and openbeach he remembers as a boy now is guarded by a phalanx of highrisecondominiums....

\- .. -I

A 1939 picture of Singing Pines taken by Lillian Williams showingher almond trees and one of her dogs.

"August 26, 1949—In a Hurricane" 5PM, by Lillian Williams.

"Where are you now that I need you, now that r want youwhen you said you loved me so well?" (a song)

What good is a friend when 1800 miles off? Write sweet wordsand leave me here in the midst of Hell broke loose?For hours, 17 at least, wind has been blowing~I don't see how

a roof like mine can take i t -It has blown from NE-N-NW-& West—-At present from west,and rain you can hardly see through;

We are in the center,—of course—Always poor old Bocagets i t -

Billy, my little partner, my comfort in joys and sorrows1s with me;*.

I have lifted, nailed, fastened, dragged, boarded, worried,Aspirin, soda, Tried to lie and not think about it;Never saw one that blew such rain, and almost twister;

They kept elec on til past four,-Mrs. Mitchell and Bebout came this morning for me to come toMrs. Mitchell's and stay;

The forecaster didn't say 1t would be so bad and so wet;ITS JUST AWFUL—

If I wasn't strong minded, I'd be sunk—Sit in SE green room, where Frank stays—Johnny's has takenall the rain and wind, on the North side, where 1s bad roof;

and the back porch; I'm surprised to see Its still there;I put big board on Garage for car and Washer—Paper on 1t—

Don't know as will hold;Something sounded like big tree toppling on roof, few

hours ago; Can't think what, hear rattling up there.Hope roof is there yet;

Guess will get drunk, the way some do, and sleep all thro;In midst of all din and fuss, fire siren, and Co., came up nearhere somewhere; Thought saw smoke by school—Only four houses there, Roseques, Eulas, Ma Purdoms, & Fiskes;Know Ma doesn't stay home in wind, don't think Eula, either;& seemed too far for Roseque; Hope wasn't Fiskes, Its wood;

I'm so afraid of fire.Do so wish could board up house, get good roof and go north—There's six more weeks of this terror, before fall;

They said Club wouldn't let commoners like us, ontheir nice beds, this year;—-Must go 1n help part--Somebody

brought so many kids, and eats, etc;Water was shut off there two years ago—Its been such a Port

1n storm; Too bad for some to spoil it.Well, I'll go walk round some more;

Didn't put a single board on house windows & so sorry-Will never let it happen again.

Been reading letters and trying to forget 1t;Weather man says this is center passing to Lake Ochobbee (sic)

now.P/s; Johnny's room can't take any more water,—It's coming

throShingle off up there—and noone to help with a single thing,--

Just sweet talk, that's all —If these roomers who come winters and beat you down

on your rent, etc., and sell that they own—Then ride roundand have good time—Then "Goodbye"

If they were here to go thro what we do, — B o y —What would they think about it? huh?—

How h a t would they ask?Double what we do—YEAH.

Note—Tree was thro roof, let in barrels of water,Emptied into wastebasket and bathtub;

All everglades, a Lake for Months.—

*Billy was one of a series of dogs and cats owned by LillianWilliams.

"Morning," by Lillian Williams, July 3, 1947.

I've named it "Singing Pines," when they're musicalThey sing to me tunefully—Radio playing cheerfully,Diesel engine mooing carefully,Poor old Hudson waiting faithfully,All these things bringing Joy to me,

in the morning—Here beside the sea.

"How we put on the Roof" by Lillian Williams, July 25, 1952.

Did you ever try putting on a roof, with men that areslower than cows on the hoof?

If you didn't just try it some time and you will nolonger wonder why I'm writing this rhyme.

First was the short little Englishman whose tonguewagged back and forth

With the young nice looking one, from a state 1n thenorth.

I've been sick-blood pressure was high—my temper will pop!

First one thing, then another, as they come todrink water

Every glass costs a dollar.What's the use, I can't holler, My voice gone I fearOnce in a while drive a nai l , I can count they're so

near.Five dollars an hour, pay the negro just two.The small one, takes fingers, so dainty to pull off

old rotten shinglesInstead of a hammer, with claws. I've seen so many

good ones, rip off those old things, not aninstant to pause.

Now, we've got no big boards, we lack nails we can use,Oh my, its so hot, have you any ice cubes?

There they sit, then stand, come down for more water-Blood pressure, go back till the morning after.

What should be done in a day, takes nearly a week—with these two lazy fools, How I could shreak.

I had just so much money to pay for the job,Had waited a year and fought like a gob—to get 1t

and there put a new roof over my head—just asmall part;

the rest sits there looking like dead.And when the end was in sight, just now I kept still —

every word I spoke cost me one dollar bill.Here he comes "we lack shingles to finish," in fact—

I was so mad—Didn't know how to actThey'd put them so close to take up more time; so I

ran for more nearly out of my mind.Are they fools, or just cheats? the latter I vow, and

with lots of brass too, for they surely know howThank God for the weather, a nice shiny sun—it will

keep back the rain till these devils are done.

"What's the Use?" by Lillian Williams, April 24, 1968

Couch 100 years old, you can't sit onA bunch of beds 30 years old, that no one sleeps onChairs I can't get out ofRugs my girl friend brought them from her house

In sympathy for meOne burner oil stove, we shipped down here in the ThirtiesIce chest we used fifty-three years ago,I sit on it now and view the LandscapeDeer and Neighbors at my door!!The Hedge, tho dying hugs to life,

In 1925 I planted it—and mother used totake a knife,before we spent the dough for shears to cut it with,

Poor Dear Garage, no paint on itThe big door has stayed open and stuck,all these many years—Thro canes and lightening we wonder at the miracle,

The back screen door, alas, when not chained fast comesoff the hinge,If you should pass

I'm sitting in the car of ancient "Vintage"Its thirteen years old now and every time I go outin it,I pray the Lord to help me not get hit

There's shoes, tables, clothes, end on endin every room

The ceiling and I'm ashamed to sayhas not been fixed since the day

The roof blew off.It just hangs, looking down on me

and let it lookWhile I lie in most comfortable bed and read a book!

What can I do with all this age old stuff?Just write this page and not make a fuss!!

•"„• .t

The Races's celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniversary. Fromthe left: Mr. George Washington Race, Mrs. Ethyl Chesebro, andMrs. Nellie Race.

City oi Boat Katan to Boca Katon HlitohiaaZ SocZ&ty, Matc/i U, 1916.

We appreciated the opportunity to have met with you on March25th to discuss some of your objectives in the preservation of out-standing structures in the community, with your immediate concernto the preservation of the "Pioneer Home" directly west of theF.E.C. Railroad and south of Boca Raton Elementary School.

As I indicated to you, without benefit of discussion beforethe City Manager or the entire staff of the City, a thought wouldbe to establish a center where not only the preservation of asingular housing unit might be accomplished but other artifacts ofthe City which are of such mass that they necessarily could not becontained within a building that might be devoted to items ofhistorical significance.

Please do not consider these to be formal recommendations butsome of our general observations made within the staff:

1. The setting should be in such a manner as to reflect theoutstanding character of the community and the enhancement ofthe structures by rehabilitation or, otherwise, by the use offoliage natural to our area. With that immediate thought inmind, and without the benefit of discussions with the Board ofRegents or with F.A.U., there is a unique site in the north-east quadrant of the F.A.U. campus immediately along the westbank of the El Rio Canal and south of N. W. 40th Street. Theassemblage of such acreage could be accommodated, I am sure,and is "a natural" for the joint efforts of your society andthe F.A.U. campus facility.

2. A site which has yet to be defined as use by the Cityand/or State but could be taken under lease would be the 17acre tract which is immediately east of the 1-95 and north ofWest Palmetto Park Road and has tremendous joint potential.

These are just a few of our immediate thoughts without con-sideration to the use of Spanish River Park, South Beach, or futuresite acquisitions by the City.

However, our further thought is that prior to your discussingthis in a formal nature with anyone, the first party to contactwould be the City Manager so that he can "spread it upon the table"for the comments and critique by the Development Review Committee.

y Uiddlzbfwok, 11, ChaJjumn, HL&toAlc Boca. Raton. ?JLRA Mutation.BoaAd o& ConmC&&AonzA<& to County CotmuA&ixm&u, o{ VaZm B&ack County,Uay 5, 1976.

We, the members of the Historic Preservation Commission, re-spectfully request that the County Commission consider leasing ordeeding to the Historic Preservation Commission approximately 12acres of county-owned property located immediately north of PalmettoPark Road and east of 1-95 for use as a Historic Preservation Park.

I t is anticipated that the second oldest home in Boca Raton maysoon be donated for historical purposes. The land, however, hasbeen sold to a private concern for future development, and therewi l l be a limited period of time to remove the house from i tspresent site.

Please consider contributing or leasing the property describedherein as a possible relocation site for this property and as aHistoric Preservation Park which we hope to establish in this Bi-centennial year.

Robent F. Cu/peppe/t, County Commi&i-ionex to Bnadlzy HLddle.bn.ook, 11,ChalfuncLti, HLbtoxJ.0. Vtuawjation. CornnL&iZon ol Boca Raton, May 21,1976.

Thank you for your letter of May 5th requesting 12 acres ofCounty land for Bicentennial purposes.

We wi l l take this request under consideration.

* * * * *

L. Eihleman, Aiit. County KdmhuMtfiaton. to Bnadtzy liiddle-h/took, II, ChaJjanan, Hi&toKlc PJieAeAvatLon Commlhilon ojj Boca.Raton, May 20, 1976.

This letter is in response to your request for 12 acres ofland located immediately north of Palmetto Park Road and east of1-95 for use as a Historic Preservation Park.

In investigating your request, it quickly came to our atten-tion that the land does not belong to Palm Beach County. Accordingto the Division of Land Acquisition, this property is owned andcontrolled by the State of Florida (Department of Transportation).I am quite confident that if you submit your request to the State,it will be looked upon favorably.

Being a resident of Boca Raton since 1950, I feel that yourproposal for a historic park is a very worthwhile and neededproject. I am sure that you are quite aware of Federal and Statemonies available for such a project, but if I can be of anyassistance, please do not hesitate to call.

Boca Raton CznteA. &oti the, Anti to Boca. Raton. HUtatiical Society,May 11, 1976.

The Board of Directors in its meeting of May 6, 1976 consid-ered the proposal you talked about on April 15, 1976 and tried toconsider it from any angle.

After considering it carefully the vote was unanimously "No".The points bringing about a "No" vote were these.

The wish to keep our property intact for a further periodwith the hope that we may wish to use it for future expansion.

We are short on parking space for the present use and willhave to expand the parking area as more activities develop.

We could not see where any activities in the small buildingwould tie into our program.

The fact that there had been material in the newspaper naminganother possible location for "Singing Pines" caused them tobelieve that the proposed location was more advantageous thanour property.

The members of the Board wish to thank you for bringing thisto our attention and wish you well in finding a suitable locationon which the house may be placed.

Boca Raton HLdtohJjioJL Society to pote.ntial donon. oh ilte., Stptmbex13, 1976.

On Wednesday, September 8, at a meeting of the Board of Trusteesof the Historical Society, consideration was given to a report andrecommendation from The Singing Pines Relocation Committee. TheCommittee reported' that the cost of moving the home from its presentsite to the proposed site in Boca Del Mar was approximately $10,000.Because of this expense, the shortage of time in which to raisemoney and various other considerations, it was the recommendationof the Committee to seek an alternative site on which to locate theLillian Williams' home.

When this recommendation was made known to certain members ofthe Board approximately three weeks ago, those representativesapproached the City Council of the City of Boca Raton in order toascertain if any City owned property could be made available forThe Singing Pines. The idea was to investigate alternatives to theBoca Del Mar site, so those alternatives could be presented to theBoard of Trustees at its next meeting. The City Council seemedmost receptive and interested in helping us.

After a thorough discussion it was the decision of the Boardof Trustees at their meeting of September 8 that it was unrealistic

to think that $10,000 could be raised within a short time. Mainlyfor this reason the Board voted to continue to explore the possi-bilities of obtaining the use of City property, hopefully at a sitewhich is close enough to the present location so as to reduce thecost of relocation. We also intend to ask the City if there areany funds available through its various Federal sources which couldbe used to assist in the saving of the house.

The Board of Trustees was most emphatic that I should contactyou as quickly as possible to notify you of the decision I havejust explained. We are all most appreciative of the generous offerthat you made and for your enthusiastic willingness to help theHistorical Society. I can assure you that it has been far tooseldom that we have found persons in the Community who have comeforward as you did and offered assistance to us. Especially inview of this, we hope that you can understand and appreciate thereasons why the Board of Trustees has decided to proceed in themanner it has.

Please call me if you have any questions or comments.

To Umbvu, oh the. HiitotUoxil Soclzty &Kom Truank P. SaieA, ChcuJtmanoh thz Bocvid, Boca Raton H-L&toJuxial Society, Augtut 1976.

Based upon previous discussions with past City Attorneys andbased upon negotiations dealing with the lease on the room in theold City Hall, I feel that the City of Boca Raton will request thatthe owner of the Singing Pines comply with all statutes, ordinances,rules and regulations, and codes of the City of Boca Raton and theState of Florida. In addition, I feel that all the expenses ofmoving the Home, of maintenance, renovation, utilities, securityand supervision will be suggested as the responsibility of theHistorical Society. The City Manager's office is also concernedthat in the event that a later City Council desires to have theHome removed from City property, that the Historical Society willhave a certain period of time in which to remove the Home or itwill be demolished by the City.

In previous meetings with the City Council it has already beenrepresented that the cost of moving will be borne by the Society.It is suggested that if this is accomplished, because we are fur-nishing the City with a unique project which, as a junior museum,will benefit the young people of the City for generations to come,we should request financial assistance from the City in the formof a waiving of the fees necessary for permits to move the premises,and of fees necessary for occupational licenses, repair permits andthe like. In addition, substantial expenses in order to renovatethe house and bring it up to the level necessary for compliancewith the City code can be foreseen, and if the City is willing toagree to assist in the expenses of restoration, I would suggestthat we agree to make certain space, such as one room, available tothe City for use by its shuffleboard Club.

Viewed generally, it seems that the suggestions herein are topropose that the Historical Society and its supporting organiza-tions bear the cost of moving the premises and the cost of day-to-day maintenance and upkeep, while requesting the City to assistfinancially in the restoration of the Home, bringing it up to Code,and of the costs of permits which will be required both for themoving and for the establishment of the Home.

RemaAki, to City Council

The Historical Society appeared before the City once before,on August 23, with a request for a permanent location on City ownedproperty for Singing Pines. Their advice was to get together withthe City Manager, Mr. Crawford, and decide upon a permanent site.This we have done. We have recommended a lot at the corner ofCrawford Boulevard and Fourth Diagonal, next to the ShuffleboardCourts. This would be an ideal site for five reasons:

1. We wouldn't have to move the building very far thereforethe cost of moving would be much less.

2. Parking is available both at the Community Center and atthe Shuffleboard Courts.

3. No land would have to be cleared.

4. Sewers are available.

5. Easy access for community.

Mr. Crawford has stated to the Historical Society that hethinks this is an appropriate site for a bit of early Boca Ratonhistory.

"Groups try to protect old home from bulldozer," Andy Mead in theBoca Raton Nem, April 30, 1976.

Lillian Race Williams lived in the old house off and on for60 years—the last few years fighting off real estate brokers whowanted to buy the house and tear it down to use the land.

Lillian, 85, gave up last December when she broke her hip andhad to sell to get money to move into the Boca Raton ConvalescentCenter.

The house—called Singing Pines—probably is the second oldest1n Boca Raton. It's scheduled to be torn down unless the severalgroups trying to save it can find the money to move it and some-where to put it.

The house, which sits by the railroad tracks at 301 SW FirstAvenue, was built around 1914. That's when houses were built ofsturdy cypress to stand the ravages of hurricanes and time.

"This (house) goes back prior to the Mizner era," says BradleyMiddlebrook, chairman of the state-appointed Boca Raton HistoricalPreservation Commission.

His group is working with the city's historical preservationboard, the Boca Raton Historical Society and the Junior ServiceLeague in attempts to save Singing Pines.

"I understand the new owner wants the house to go to thehistorical society, but there's some time pressure because theywant to build on the land," Says Middlebrook.

He's written to Bill Medlen, chairman of the county commission,asking if the state historical commission could use part of a 17-acre-county-owned tract at 1-95 and Palmetto Park Road. Medlen sayshe wants to check whether the county has plans for a vehicle in-spection station or a park on the land before making a recommenda-tion to the commission.

The state historical commission is important to the plan be-cause—while it has no funds—it has the power to own land....

"Fate of 'Singing Pines' is still up in the air," Larry Fortner inthe Boca. Raton Mem, August 26, 1976.

Nothing is so lonely as a house without a home. Nothing is souncertain as the fate of "Singing Pines," the house that has stoodintact...for 60 years. Now "Singing Pines" must be moved. Ordestroyed....

The new owner plans to build warehouses on the property._ He'llgive the old Cracker cottage to any historical society that mightput it to good use. But he won't wait much longer. Already an Aug.1 deadline has been forgiven. A new one—Nov. 1—has been established.

That's why the Boca Raton Historical Society, with no land of itsown, has asked the city to provide a new home for the old house.

Monday, two representatives of the historical society askedfor use of a small, city-owned lot near the intersection of South-west Second Avenue and Southwest Third Street. Council memberswere reluctant to grant that request. The lot—only 50x110 feet-is too small to provide a permanent home, they said, and they won-dered if moving the house twice might damage it beyond repair.Also, some said, residents there might not approve of their newCracker cottage neighbor.

There was strong sentiment, though, for helping the homelesshouse.

"If it can be moved," said Mark Byron, "it is deserving of be-ing put in a permanent place." Byron was not one of those who wor-ried about the "impact" of the house on an existing neighborhood.

"I think that wherever a home like that is placed, and I haveseen the structure, it could be an asset for any neighborhood. Itis wholly different than the standard concrete block and stuccocrates which are not in themselves any gems that need to be dupli-cated."

...John Gresham said he would "like to see us find a spot" forthe house.

Finally it was decided that representatives of the historicalsociety should meet with City Manager Don Crawford in an attempt tofind a site for the home. The city manager, Gresham said, might beable to arrange a "one-shot move."

Frank Saier of the historical society was so encouraged by thecouncil's response that he's ready to ask for use of the vacant lotat the intersection of Crawford Boulevard and Northwest Fourth Dia-gonal near the city's snuffleboard courts. "Our aims are nowelevated," he said after the meeting. "That location would seem tobe a natural." The house, Saier says, is "still sound—its moveableand useable."

The historical society, Saier says, would pay to move thehouse. He estimates it would cost about $2,000. A property ownerhas offered the use of land outside the city, Saier says, but itwould cost the historical society about $10,000 to make that move.It's "very doubtful," he says, that the society could raise thatmuch money. Besides, an out-of-town site would be impractical.City organizations, Saier says, "wouldn't want to meet there."Saier sees the old house as a new home for civic groups and as thehome of a city museum. Although the historical society wouldn'thave the money to do much more than just move the house and payfor its insurance, Saier says the Junior Service League has agreedto take on the task of renovation....

The results of Monday's discussion might have put Crawford inan uncomfortable spot—right in the middle. The historical society

wants to save the house. So does the council. Now it's up to thecity manager to help iron out the details.

"Frankly there are a number of things to be looked at,"Crawford says. Just one of those "things" he says, is whether thebuilding will ever be able to meet fire marshal requirements forpublic occupancy. "I see a lot of headaches ahead," Crawford says."There are a lot of long-range costs that need to be considered."

The pressure of that Nov. 1 deadline adds urgency to thoseconsiderations. Nothing is so final as the crash of the wreckingball.

* * * * *MEMORANDUM, files of the Boca Raton Historical Society, n.d.

Called Dick Huopana to complain about the City Manager's office-September. Two days after August 23rd meeting we called CityManager's office—no return call.

Sent letter August 25th suggesting a specific site—no acknowledg-ment or answer to request.

Deputy Mayor Huopana was perturbed and promised a call to Mr. Craw-ford's office. That afternoon, Crawford returned our call and wewere placed on the agenda for that evening. The City Council un-animously agreed to provide city-owned land for "Singing Pines."

"'Singing Pines' may be saved, Larry Fortner in the Boca RatonWew*, September 15, 1976.

...The city council has told City Manager Don Crawford to reacha formal agreement with representatives of the Boca Raton HistoricalSociety so "Singing Pines" can be moved to city-owned land at thesoutheast corner of Crawford Boulevard and Northwest Fourth Diagonal.

...The land...meets the approval both of the historical societyand the city Department of Community Development. The land is zonedfor the proposed use of the old house--it would become a museum anda civic center—and it is large enough for the parking that would beneeded....

* * * * *Howard E. McCall of McCall & Lynch, Architects to prospective mover,24 September 1976.

Enclosed please find a copy made from the Boca Raton City Map onwhich I have traced a proposed route for moving the WilliamsResidence.

The streets on the route marked are paved all the way and it appearsto me that there would not be any obstacles. The blue lines on themap show the approximate location of overhead electric lines and thelocation of one traffic light to be moved at Palmetto Park Road.

I discussed the cost of moving FPSL's power line with their rep-resentative Mr. Gerry Kliner. He advised me that the estimatedcost for this work would be $625. This is an estimate only andmust be paid prior to the work. We will then either get a refundif the work costs less or will be billed for the additional cost.

In discussing this matter with Gerry Kliner this morning, itoccured to me that we have not obtained the cost of moving thetelephone line, nor have we obtained the price of moving the onetraffic light at the corner of Palmetto Park Road and First Avenue.I am reasonably certain that telephone lines of any significancewould occur only 1n two places, at Palmetto Park Road and N.W.Second Avenue....

Mrs. Charles E. Waldner, President, Junior Service League to FrankSaier, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Boca Raton HistoricalSociety, October 14, 1977.

The Junior Service League of Boca Raton is honored to have theprivilege of participating 1n the "Singing Pines Project."

It is with pleasure that we have allocated the sum of $1,000 specif-ically for the movement of "Singing Pines" to a new location. Thesefunds are set aside and are to only be used for the above statedpurpose. In the event the house is not moved by November 15th, thecommitment will be withdrawn and funds will be released for anotherworthy project.

This letter guarantees the monies aforementioned are available andwill be dispersed to the Boca Raton Historical Society on the daythe house is moved.

* * * * *

"City to the rescue: Council votes to help save 'Singing Pines.1"Larry Fortner in the Boca Raton Nem, October 20, 1976.

There's still some question about what to call the second old-est house in Boca Raton. City Manager Don Crawford calls it "Whisper-Ing Pines." The Boca Raton Historical Society and the Junior ServiceLeague call it "Singing Pines." Mayor Dorothy Wilken, amused by theconfusion, has called it "Murmuring Pines." Call it what you want.Call It saved. The city council Tuesday night unanimously approvedspending as much as $4,000 to move the old "Cracker cottage" from301 SE First Ave., to a new home on city-owned land at CrawfordBoulevard and Northwest Fourth Diagonal.

The city, with the same $4,000, also will provide a foundationof piers for the house that will be renovated and then maintainedby the Junior Service League of Boca Raton. The city money willcome from the $100,000 contingency fund.

!«•

"'Singing Pines' is saved," Editorial, the Boca Raton NetuA, October20, 1976.

Congratulations are in order now that the second oldest house1n Boca Raton has something to sing about. "Singing Pines," a 60-year-old pioneer home, will be moved to city-owned land at the city'sexpense and put down on a foundation of piers at Crawford Boulevardand Northwest Fourth Diagonal. If a new home had not been providedfor the old house it would have been destroyed by its new owner.

Lillian Race Williams, the 82-year-old former owner of the oldhouse, was forced to sell her home and move to a convalescent centerbecause of an injury. We're sorry she had to leave her home and wehope her years of love and care for the honorable cottage are notforgotten.

We're happy, though, the house will be saved and put to suchgood use. Once "Singing Pines" has been moved, the Junior ServiceLeague plans to turn it into a junior museum—a welcome addition tothe bustling community center we enjoy so much.

Much work remains to be finished and much money remains to beraised. This is an ambitious project.

Our congratulations go to members of the city council, the BocaRaton Historical Society and the Junior Service League. They workedtogether to save a bit of history and to provide a valuable asset forthe future.

Mrs. David B. Dickenson, Chairman, State Historic Boca Raton Pre-servation Board to CETA of Palm Beach, December 15, 1977.

The State Historic Commission of Boca Raton would like to state forthe record the importance of "Singing Pines" as an historic site inour community.

Being the second oldest wooden structure in Boca Raton, and the onlywooden structure in original condition, it serves to illustrate tomodern day residents how the early settlers in this area lived. Wefeel it is vitally important to preserve this building, and havepledged support.

Florida is a rapidly growing state, fast losing its sense of thepast. We must preserve it by re-cycling some of the significantearly buildings. We therefore endorse the Junior Service League'srestoration endeavors for "Singing Pines."

The remodeling begins. Mrs. Richard (Christine) Critchfield dis-cusses plans with Robert Messmer, general contractor for the pro-ject. Photo, Tke. FoAt Lau.dzA.daZt Nem, April 20,1978.

BOCA RATON HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC.P.O.Box 1113 - Boca Raton, FL 33432

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PA IDPERMIT N.118

BOCA RATON, FL